THE LESSER HORSESHOE BAT 257 



on its congener. It appears to be in every way a more fragile 

 and delicate bat, and is to be found in greatest abundance in 

 districts where the presence of caves affords it an equable 

 temperature during the cold days of winter. 



It is difficult to compare its flight with that of its larger 

 congener. Although apparently slow in its movements, it is, 

 perhaps, less so than the larger species. It vibrates its wings 

 more frequently, but is not so graceful, and does not glide so 

 often. Yet it is very active, since Mr Arthur Whitaker, who 

 has effected the capture with his net of seven other species 

 while out of doors and at full liberty, writes me that its 

 wonderful agility completely defeated him for half an hour in 

 the confined space of a room. 



The behaviour of a Lesser Horseshoe Bat, under the novel 

 conditions of confinement in a strange room, has been well 

 described by the late R. F. Tomes, who remarked that it dis- 

 played in its search for a means of exit an ability which was 

 quite extraordinary. It literally flew into every part of the room, 

 going behind and under everything, even under a bookcase stand- 

 ing against a wall, although there was scarcely a space of three 

 inches between it and the floor. Some bookshelves in a recess 

 especially attracted its attention, and after examining them 

 diligently, it darted into a vacancy occasioned by the removal 

 of an octavo volume, and out again into the open room, with- 

 out having been seen to touch anything even with the tips 

 of its winQTs. But it was most interesting to observe it when 

 making an examination of the window, searching every pane 

 over and over, inch by inch, until it might properly be said that 

 no portion of the glass remained unexamined. While doing 

 this, the wings were kept in a vibratory state, the face of the 

 animal being directly in front of the glass, and very near to it, 

 as if looking out of the window. The general manners of the 

 creature, when thus engaged, conveyed in a slight degree the 

 idea of a hawk-moth when hovering in front of a flower. 

 From the behaviour of the individual, and its peculiar mode 

 of flight, it was difficult to repress the idea that it was either 

 feeling its way about, like a blind person, or feeling for an 

 opening by which to escape. But, at the same time, its 

 shyness when approached gave Tomes the strong but, as it 



